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GoGo at fault for Blame’s loss? Give me a break….

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I’ve had my fair share of bad rides. There are times when a jockey has refused to take a clear rail, and instead went wide and ended up falling just short. Sure, I complained. However, you will never hear me complain about a jockey when he clearly does nothing wrong. That is why I’m confused as to why Jerry Bossert of NY Daily News wants to pin the blame on Garrett Gomez for Blame’s failure to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Anyone with half a brain knew that Haynesfield going wire to wire in the Jockey Club Gold Cup was a distinct possibility. I noted this in my writeup of the race. I believed the colt wasn’t classy enough to carry his speed and it would be Rail Trip getting first jump who would win the race. I was wrong. Rail Trip faded and Haynesfield got stronger as the race got longer. Kind of odd since he is a son of Speightstown, right?

The fractions for the race were :24 3/5, 48 3/5, and then 1:13 1/5. GoGo had his charge a little closer than normal, but in the end Blame is a closer. There is nothing Gomez can do about that. He inched closer as the race went on, but in the end he fell victim to a soft pace. Would you blame Mike Smith for not having Zenyatta close enough? Of course not. That’s just the way the mare runs.

I also saw plenty of criticism for Johnny Velazquez when he lost the Whitney on Quality Road. Johnny V went to the lead and set a slow pace, but in the end Blame was able to gun him down. How can we blame him for taking a speed horse to the lead and slowing things down? He did his job perfectly, and Quality Road got beat by a better horse that day.

I’m sure Jerry Bossert is a wonderful fellow, but I don’t understand how he could blame Gomez for this one. Do you?

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Kentucky Derby Approaching May 1

April 26, 2010 By 3 Comments


The First Saturday in May is rapidly drawing closer. The Kentucky Derby took a hit this weekend when probable favorite Eskendereya was withdrawn from consideration after trainer Todd Pletcher discovered a swollen leg. His defection after winning the Wood Memorial and as the favorite follows I Want Revenge who was  also going to be the favorite after winning the Wood Memorial in 2009. The defection of Eskendereya makes way for the Bob Baffert trained juvenile champion Lookin at Lucky to become the new favorite.

Todd Pletcher’s best hope for ending his 0-24 skid in the Run for the Roses may have been Eskendereya, but he still has plenty of bullets to fire. Among his entrants this year will be Louisiana Derby winner Mission Impazible, Sam Davis Stakes winner Rule, and Arkansas Derby runner up Super Saver. The filly Devil May Care, Discreetly Mine, and Interactif are also potential chances for Todd Pletcher.

I feel sorry for jockey Johnny Velazquez. He lost Florida Derby winner Quality Road last year and now he has lost Eskendereya. It appears that he will get the mount on Devil May Care if Pletcher’s opts for the Kentucky Derby over the Kentucky Oaks. She is a big lanky filly that is blazing fast, but may not be ready for the Kentucky Derby. I’d like to see her in the Oaks.

This Kentucky Derby is wide open just like last year. Many of the top contenders have big question marks. The overall quality of the field seems sub par and could be average at best. I don’t think we have any chance of seeing a Triple Crown winner. The only horse I could see doing it would be Sidney’s Candy. We still have no idea how good he is. His ability is like a well and we still don’t know if he has come close to the bottom. Does that mean he will be my Kentucky Derby pick? Not at all, but if you told me now that one of these horses was going to sweep the TC I think he would be the one. Who do you like?

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